Manila International Book Fair has been happening for 37 years, and this is the first time I've heard and been to it.

This has been crazy!!

When I entered the place at SMX Convention Center, here in SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, I couldn't breathe. All the things that I loved growing up were there. Books of all kinds were everywhere. There were novelty items sold too. Pens, notebooks, art supplies from different books stores were there as well.

Good news is, it's still open until tomorrow, Sept. 18, 2016, 8:00pm. I really wish I'd known about this a long time ago!

What more can a self-professed book hoarder do?

Of course, as much as I promised myself that I would never ever buy anything from the fair, it totally didn't happen. I did buy a few after realizing that 20% off on the books that I wanted was too much to ignore.

Really! Low prices for books are hard to come by, so if you're a book-lover like me, what else is there to do?

So...a new promise to myself has occurred.

I will never again buy books until the next #MIBF next year. Let's see how that goes.

Rows of bookstores and publishers I've never heard off were all lined up here.

Really, this many books could make a book-lover really breathless.

I snapped a photo of this because I never thought Grolier still exist. Apparently, it still does.

Of course, when you're tired or simply have no money anymore to buy books, make it a reason to just sit down and actually read.

More rows of academic books and novelty items.

After hours of walking around the huge place, I finally decided to succumb to my inner child.

Ever since I could remember, I've been prone to allergies, and it just happened to become worse as I grew older. I became familiar with the over-the-counter antihistamines, like Claritin, Benadryl, CoAltria and such, to the point that I became dependent on it every time I get allergies. I secretly began talking them like actual vitamins!

When I talk about allergies, those are the sneezing, the teary-eyed moment, the itchy, runny nose, the explainable headache, and sometimes, the itchy throat for unknown reasons. It could be a lot worse for someone else, but so far these have been my chronic illness for a long time now.

Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) as they call it, is a general ailment that even until now has no medicinal cure. For us who suffer this recurring illness, it has become a habit to always reach for fast-healing OTC antihistamine with hopes that the symptoms will never come back again.

When I did my research on the effects of OTC antihistamines on the body, I initially came up with none. Perhaps because, at that time, there were little to no research done on the topic. However, I came across an article stating that

"antihistamines reduce or block histamines in the body but it may also kill or inhibit the release of Diamine Oxidase (DAO) in the body - the chemical that breaks down histamine to reduce allergy-like symptoms "

So here are some of the reasons why I decided to quit taking OTC Antihistamines as long as my body could handle the symptoms.

To Avoid Dependency on the Medication.

Apparently, we now live in a face-paced world. We want quick relief of any pain we feel to continue the most important things that we are doing. I, for one, used to be like that. I used to always reach out to antihistamines to get rid of my symptoms quickly. I realize later on that I was being depended on the medication so heavily that, like I said, it almost became one of my vitamins. Our body can only take so much medication, and side-effects vary from people to people. Simply said, it's better to make fresh food be our medicine than suffer side-effects for OTC drugs in the long run.

To Allow My Body to Heal Itself.

Generally speaking, any medications disrupt the ability of the body to heal itself. Instead, we are taking additional chemicals into our body that may or may not have any beneficial effect. For me, as I did my research on alternative cure on my allergies, I found out that there are tons of food that I already have in the kitchen that can help lower or eliminate my symptoms altogether. Some work as quickly as an OTC antihistamine, and some don't, but mostly they are all beneficial to the decrease of histamine in the body, for stabilizing the mast cell or for reducing inflammation in the body.

To Reduce Expenses.

Basically, switching from medicines to healthy foods could eliminate some unnecessary costs that we make on a daily basis. Why? Because OTC antihistamines or any OTC medication for this matter can only be effective for so long. You cannot guarantee that it will cure you to the core and that you will never have the ailment in the future again. Aside from that, purchasing OTC antihistamines could be a bit pricey depending on the severity of your case or the kind of medication you need - whether you take capsules, nasal sprays/drops, or any allergy relieving devices. If you think about it, investing your money on healthy fresh foods for treating allergy-like symptoms, like hay fever (allergic rhinitis) have more long-term benefits to the body and have various healing effects. You can reduce the symptoms by being mindful of what you eat than spending a whole lot of money on 'fast-cure' and ending up getting worse in the end. There are lists available already that can help us identify which food to avoid and which ones to take. There are also some who already provided some list of antihistamine rich foods that you can use as replacement for OTC medications. So next time you eat, be mindful of every food you put in your body. You might think the food you're eating is healthy, but for people who suffer excessive histamine in the body, some foods could wreak havoc on the system.

As you might have noticed. this is my general overview of the topic. Nowadays, histamine-related research has grown tremendously over the past decade.It has become so extensive that fighting off the allergy-like symptom could almost be treated by simply eating the right food and correcting some habits that destroy our body's natural processes. It's a fascinating study and you might be surprised that this tiny chemical in our body could be the very cause of our common illnesses. I'll be doing more posts with regards to allergic rhinitis, histamine, and body-healing foods later on. But if you have any questions right now, please do let me know so I could add that to the list of my research.

Links provided above are good references that I found along my research from people who I deemed reliable based on similar experiences and have done extensive research on the topic. You can also use them as the starting point for your own research.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional of any sort. Things I say here are based on my own experiences and my own research for my own benefit. I'm only sharing here the things that work for me. Please do your own research for anything that may work for you. I do not advise on self-medication so please always consult your own specialist or physician before doing any changes in your diet.

It was a bright happy day when we did our walk around Washington DC back on our US Trip last year.

We stopped in front of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, to get some snacks while waiting for its opening hour.

I didn't eat much. Just a few bites of chips and sandwich and I was good.

But then, it happened.

I burped. And it was loud.

Bad thing was, we were not alone. Someone was there and heard it.

If I were in the Philippines, burping would be totally normal. Although we all know that it's really bad manners, to some folks here, it's a sign of gratitude tò the server/host that the food you just eat was perfectly good and filling.

But we were in the US. And Washington DC to be exact. Where there were foreigners everywhere.

Well, I was able to cover my mouth and say excuse me to the stranger who heard me. And fortunately enough, the kind lady just laughed at me, although she was just as surprised as I was.

That opened a short exchange of conversation between her and me. She asked where we are from and what we were doing there.

And to be honest, I wasn't that embarrassed at all.

But eventually, I did realize a few things about manners in a foreign country.

Do Not Burp Out Loud in a Washington DC Park. Or in any other foreign country for this matter. I can't stress this enough. Keep burping out loud in your home if you can help it. As simple as burping can be, this could ultimately lead to utter embarrassment if not handled properly. Train yourself to be discreet when it comes to burping. Don't be like me.

But if you did, cover your mouth and say 'sorry' or 'excuse me' immediately! It's not hard, actually. Just a little practice and you could say those words right after you burped. If all things come to worst, hide or cover your face with something. People will know you're embarrassed with yourself and that you didn't really mean it.

Or you could do what I did, just smile and apologize. As simple as that, you could totally get away with it.

You could also gain a friend. You never know. Someone else could totally relate.

..or maybe just open a small convo with a stranger. Yes. Smiling and apologizing for a common mistake lightens the air when you're in a difficult situation.

And you'd be happy you handled it with grace. Yup. It's that wonderful freeing feeling, not only because you finally burped, but also because you got over an embarrassing moment in a perfectly normal way.

So that's one of my funny, embarrassing stories. Do you have any suggestions on how to get away with a certain embarrassing moment like this? Share it on the discussion below! I would so love to know!

If you've never traveled before, you would never expect such a beautiful, tranquil place in the Philippines. But since Pinas is an island made of tiny islands, some of which have only been traversed by extreme adventure seekers, it's no wonder that this special place still holds the title of total tranquility.

Continuing the story of our trip in Batanes, here's my take on Sabtang Island, Batanes and beholding the 4 unexpectedly unique Beauties I found in this grandeur island.

Values-themed Cafe/Stores.

If Batan Island has the Honesty Coffee Shop, Sabtang Island welcomes all tourist to its Conscience Cafe & Souvenir Shop. Aren't they all well-themed?

Well-Maintained Historical Churches/Chapels.

While I know, there are tons of churches in the whole of Batanes, Sabtang prides itself of its own churches as well. Here are some of the ones that really captured my eyes as we journeyed along. Notice how they are all well-maintained and clean to the look? It just goes without saying that the locals here have a respect for their own religion.

San Vicente Ferrer Church

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel

Sta. Rosa de Lima Chapel

The Admirable Effort that Went Behind the Building of the Stone-houses

I don't know how to emphasize this a lot better. But the stone-houses in this island, particularly, still mesmerizes me. It's even made unique once you hear the story of how they used to make these houses in the olden days. I'm sure your chosen tour guide will gladly relay that to you.

Besides the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel chapel is this old beaterio, an old priest's house. A perfect picturesque view for any occasions!

Remember this scene from Yeng Constantino's hit MTV song, Ikaw? Yup, I've always wondered where that place was. Now I know. It's even prettier in person.

Breath-taking Scenic Cliff Views

I now believe that remote islands offer the best and tranquil view of the ocean side. Photos and videos really don't do any justice to the beautiful creation God has made. You really have to feel the wind blowing against your face and whiff the scent of the ocean beneath to really appreciate these exquisite views.

I know there are tons more of beautiful things to notice on this island, and I would so love to know them all! Please do leave me a comment below to let me know if you found some more!

There have been many times that I come across individuals like me, who grew up in the local 'Christian' church, but eventually drifted apart because of various reasons. It may be because of work, family situations, but most of the time, they say because they feel left out.

I often wonder why. A church is supposed to be a place of encouragement and motivation. It should be a place where people learn Biblical Standards and be blessed by each others' testimonies.

Instead, I feel like it has become a place of high-minded individuals who act holier-than-thou all the time. Or maybe it has become filled with people who are negative and judgmental to others who are not in the know of the principles and standards that they practice.

If you're someone who thinks like this happens in your church, well, you're not alone. I often felt that negative attack of the devil in my head too. So I ask myself that maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just imagining that they are like that and perhaps they really want the best for me.

And with this kind of thinking, I often end up feeling confused, alone and frustrated in life.

Then reality hit me. What is it that I'm looking for in a church? To whom am I really looking, the people that gathers or the One who leads them all? Where's my attention going, to some senseless emotional blabbing or to the Word of God being preached? What's more important to me, securing my own emotions so I won't get hurt or accepting the truth from the Bible and be matured?

This poem was written during a time like this. To remind myself that it is not in this world where my real joy lies, but to the One who sacrificed it all for me.

Contrary to the statements that China is a dirty place to live in, we did find some great tasting foods that will actually bring you back home in one piece.

It was a chilly month when we went there back in 2014 so some foods might not be available during summer. But looking through the food photos that I've found during our stay there, makes me what to go back there all over again - just for these mouth-watering foods.

Being a first timer, here are the select foods that I've found really interesting to look at and equally good to the taste that everyone who wants to visit Shanghai, China, should definitely try!

From Street Sellers to Small Food-Stalls

You might think eating street foods in China is not a good idea, after all the negative feedback we hear in the news or social media shares. Well, you're definitely not alone in that thinking. But as my sister and I were walking down a street going to Yuyuan Garden, we found this interesting thing-in-a-skewer that we absolutely had to try. Because who wouldn't? Look at it!

Tanghulu (Caramelized Chinese Hawthorn in a skewer)

Tanghulu (Caramelized Chinese Hawthorn in a skewer)

This one is generally called Tanghulu (bingtanghulu), which is basically a delicious treat made from caramelized fruit stuffed into bamboo sticks about 20cm long and is considered a real delicacy for the little ones. Sold on the street especially in tourist areas like the hutongs (alleys) in Beijing's Wangfujing area (one of the most famous avenues in the capital of China), the tanghulu are made by covering the fruit with a layer of hardened sugar that is obtained by immersing the skewer in sugar syrup. But of course there are other variants of the preparations, one of which includes a second chocolate coating, or sesame seeds. In the traditional version, the fruit with the skewer was that of the Chinese hawthorn, but recently vendors have adapted to the tastes of Western tourists, even by using tomatoes, mandarins, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple chunks, bananas, kiwi and grapes, sometimes mixing in the same skewer different types of fruit.(1) And the taste? Definitely satisfying! No wonder its popular among kids!

This next one, has become my all time favorite among the foods I've tasted in Shanghai, China. Xiaolongbao is a type of steamed bun (baozi) from the Jiangnan region of China, especially associated with Shanghai and Wuxi. It is traditionally prepared in xiaolong, small bamboo steaming baskets, which give them their name. (2) For me, it taste absolutely heavenly, especially when you're hungry. Not to mention the fact that they are so cute! This one in particular was taken when we were in the corner streets of Yuyuan Garden. I've tried several other xiaolongbao in different stores and restaurants, even in Nanxiang Old Street, which is said to be the home of the original xiaolongbao, but for some reasons, this one specifically has become my special favorite.

Xiaolongbao at Yuyuan Garden

Xiaolongbao at Yuyuan Garden. Aren't they cute??

Now, while we were walking around a town, I had this sudden urge to try an authentic Chinese Siopao - or what the locals call Baozi. Basically a steamed bun with fillings, this version was stuffed with vegetables and tofu. We didn't know, back then, that there are lots of fillings available for a baozi, but fortunately enough, we had this one. Although it was not the delicious meaty-filling I'm used to back in the Philippines, this one was a good try. Be careful though, they say that some fillings they have may never be pleasant to foreign taste buds.

Baozi, or Stuffed Steamed Bun

If you're feeling thirsty after all those carbs, why not try to grab a drink and freshen up a bit? Feeling a bit more crazy, though? Try this. Nothing special though. It's just an ordinary juice in a blood-bank form container.

From Cafes to full blown Restaurants.
I was surprise to see that of most cafes in Shanghai were cozy, inviting and equally tasteful to try. These were the ones that we went to and tried. Shanghai, being a city and a tourist destination in itself, its no wonder that these cafes and restaurants are tourist friendly when it comes to food selections, despite the strong language barrier that they have there.

Cafe de Volcan. Located at Xuhui, Shanghai, China. One of their special treats was that they will give you a sample bit-size cookie for every coffee you buy. www.cafevolcan.com

Momi Cafe - The branch that we tried was the one in Qibao Old Street. Its a concept cafe that has a 'time-travel' theme, in which you can address a mail to yourself or someone else, put a mailing date sometime in the future, and when that date comes, they will mail it to the recipient. It's a cute concept, and now I regret that I didn't avail of their services!

Dagu Rice Noodles - An Asian restaurant in a mall somewhere in Nanjing Road . We were treated by a friend here so that we could try some rice noodles and be full for lunch. And, being a probinsyana, I was amazed that they let us take the glass bottles to-go with us. I mean, that's going to be pretty expensive on their side if every customer does that!

Shanghai First Food Hall. If you're still not satisfied, and still feeling a bit more food-adventurous, try this. They have huge selection of food for almost every kind of foodie out there. It was a bit too heavy for us, but we did get one item though. Located at Nanjing East Road. Click here for TripAdvisor Reviews.

Yup! This was what we got. Just so, you know, we could say we bought something there.

A bundle of Herbs and More!
Of course, what is a trip to China without catching a whiff of its herbs? It's definitely a wonder to me how much herbs this country produces. There so many to choose from that I think, even a whole month would not be enough to memorize all of its usage! If you prefer to buy by bulk, they say its cheaper to go to the market to get it. And if you're a tourist with no knowledge of any Chinese language or dialect, and is looking for a specific type of herb you need - just like we did - I suggest you go with someone you know who is local and who is familiar with herbs - or risk getting stuck with local sellers hard-selling some kind of herb you don't even recognize! The easiest option, though, is getting one on a popular mall. There are plenty of them to choose from there already - and it's a lot safer.

As you can see, we definitely had been through a lot of food stores, but, of course, there were plenty more that we didn't know of. Surely, Shanghai could be a place for a foodie-wannabe.

About me

jenamaen.com is a hub where I share unique travel destinations I have seen, distinctive novels and other books I have read, beauty products, and fashion innuendos I have tested, and quirky handcrafted stuff I have created. It is a lifestyle blog of an intricate mind.